Section 12.

3 • The Tangent Line Problem 201

Name______________________________________________
Section 12.3 The Tangent Line Problem

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to approximate slopes of

tangent lines, use the limit definition of slope, and use
derivatives to find slopes of graphs.

I. Tangent Line to a Graph (Page 873) What you should learn

How to define the tangent
The tangent line to a graph of a function f at a point P(x1, y1) line to a graph
is . . . the line that best approximates the slope of the graph
at the point.

To determine the rate at which a graph rises or falls at a single

point, . . . you can find the slope of the tangent line at that
point.

II. Slope of a Graph (Page 874) What you should learn

How to use a tangent line
To visually approximate the slope of a graph at a point, . . . to approximate the slope
draw the tangent line to the graph at the point. Then approximate of a graph at a point
the slope of the tangent line by estimating the change in the
value of y for each unit change in x. This ratio approximates the
slope of the graph at the point.

III. Slope and the Limit Process (Pages 875−877) What you should learn
How to use the limit
A secant line to a graph is . . . a line through the point of definition of slope to find
tangency and a second point on the graph. exact slopes of graphs

A difference quotient is . . . the ratio [f(x + h) − f(x)]/h.

Give the definition of the slope of a graph.

The slope m of the graph of f at the point (x, f (x)) is equal to the
slope of its tangent line at (x, f (x)) and is given by
m = lim msec = lim [f(x + h) − f(x)]/h, provided this limit exists.
h→0 h→0

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
202 Chapter 12 • Limits and an Introduction to Calculus

Example 1: Use the limit process to find the slope of the graph
of f ( x) = x 2 + 5 at the point (3, − 1).

This graph has a slope of 6 at the point (3, − 1).

IV. The Derivative of a Function (Pages 878−879) What you should learn
How to find derivatives
The derivative of f at x is the function derived from . . . the of functions and use
limit process to represent the slope of the graph of f at the point derivatives to find slopes
of graphs
(x, f(x)).

Give the formal definition of the derivative.

The derivative of f at x is f ′(x) = lim [f(x + h) − f(x)]/h, provided

h→0
this limit exists.

The derivative f ′(x) is a formula for . . . the slope of the

tangent line to the graph of f at the point (x, f(x)).

Example 2: Find the derivative of f ( x) = 9 − 2 x 2 .

f ′(x) = − 4x

y y y

x x x

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.